Musk Calls Who A Great Ally?
Elon Musk, the tech mogul and CEO of Tesla, recently praised Republican Senator Todd Young (Indiana), calling him a “great ally” after initially criticizing him over his stance on Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence. Musk took to his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to publicly amend his previous remarks: “Just had an excellent conversation with @SenToddYoung. I stand corrected. Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy.”
Musk’s comments come after a period of tension, in which he had criticized Young for hesitating to confirm Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and vocal critic of the deep state. Musk had previously referred to Young as a “deep state puppet,” suggesting that the senator was too aligned with the bureaucratic elite to back such an unconventional nominee.
Young, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, holds significant sway in the confirmation process for Gabbard. During a recent hearing, he challenged Gabbard’s refusal to label former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a traitor, a point that raised eyebrows among conservatives and national security experts. Despite the tense back-and-forth, Young remains one of the pivotal figures in determining whether Gabbard will secure the position.
Despite their differences, Young’s relationship with President Trump has been rocky, especially following the January 6th Capitol riot, when Young publicly announced he would not support Trump’s 2024 presidential run. However, Musk and Trump’s alliance has grown stronger, with Musk even contributing millions to Trump’s campaign. It’s clear that Musk’s influence is expanding, particularly as he works to support Trump’s cabinet appointments and push for greater efficiency in government—a cause that resonates strongly with many Republican voters.